Millions of dollars are on the way toward four affordable housing projects after the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly approved $2 million in funding during the Monday night Assembly meeting, though there will still be multiple procedural steps that need to be taken before boots hit the ground, according to City Manager Rorie Watt.
“Any housing project has a lot of steps before they become a reality, there are always more steps involved than you think,” Watt said.
The money will go toward four affordable housing developments and comes from the CBJ Juneau Affordable Housing Fund which is in its second round of funding and goes toward supporting for-profit and nonprofit organizations, public and regional housing authorities and tribal governments to create affordable and workforce housing in Juneau.
The four projects set to receive funding are:
— AWARE is set to receive a $200,000 grant for its Cordova Street project to fund the development of seven single-room occupancy apartments.
— Rooftop Properties LLC is set to receive a $1.2 million loan to fund the development of 24 units of mixed-income housing on a 20-acre lot at 7400 Glacier Highway, a part of its larger Ridgeview project that currently proposes building up to 444 apartments.
— St. Vincent de Paul, is set to receive $100,000 of grant funding to go toward deferred maintenance of its Teal Street shelter.
— Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority set to receive a $500,000 grant to go toward its Kowee Phase 1 New Housing Construction, which would build 10 two-to four-bedroom homes located near Sayéik: Gastineau Community School and Harborview Elementary School.
The grants and loans are awarded $50,000 per affordable or workforce housing unit created and of the seven local entities that applied, four were chosen by the CBJ Lands, Housing and Economic Development Committee in late November to move to the Assembly for approval of the funding awards.
AWARE’s grant helps to defray unexpectedly high costs for its seven single-room occupancy apartment development, which was originally purchased in 2020, and construction broke ground in September of this year.
However, according to Many Cole, the executive director of AWARE, the construction guaranteed maximum price estimate came in at nearly $600,000 more than estimated just for construction — excluding purchase and design costs — and clocked in at around $1.71 million compared to the original estimate of $900,000.
According to Cole, AWARE is working to lower the GMP, and the $298,896 — which AWARE asked for in funding — would cover roughly half of the unexpected rise in cost, however, only $200,000 was approved.
“This was the highest-ranking project based on team experience, committed funds, leveraging percentage, and the likelihood of development within the year,” Joseph Meyers, CBJ housing and land use specialist, stated in the memo.
Rooftop Properties LLC loan to develop 24 units of mixed-income housing would be considered the first phase a part of the company’s larger Ridgeview project that currently proposes building up to 444 apartments and townhomes on a 20-acre lot at 7400 Glacier Highway.
Currently, the company is working with the CBJ Planning Commission to approve the Preliminary Plan for the 444 units and is set to receive a public hearing for its final plan which is set to be presented Tuesday evening.
The third applicant, St. Vincent de Paul’s funding allows the organization to make a handful of improvements at its Mendenhall Valley area shelter which according to its application, faces $1.5 million to cover its overall deferred maintenance needs.
According to its board’s application, the grant would allow the nonprofit to complete some of its significant projects ranging from the gutter and flashing repair to a fire system upgrade to a kitchen remodel, along with other tasks to upgrade the shelter.
Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing grant to go toward its Kowee Phase 1 New Housing Construction has a goal to be constructed within 3 years of the grant award, according to its application.
The target population would be Juneau residents under 80% MFI along with some of the funding sources for the project being for restricting housing to Native Americans.
“THRHA are looking for direction on not only how to address current housing needs but also how to be proactive in future planning efforts to ensure that the community of Juneau has adequate housing and a sustainable economy where residents are able to achieve the lifestyles they desire with the services and housing types they need,” stated the application.
Scott Ciambor, chief housing officer at CBJ said the next steps for the city now that approval has been given is to put together grant agreements for the four applicants, noting last year’s agreements took around a month and a half to be created, signed and dispersed. He said it will likely be until February before the money is out the door.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807. Follow her on Twitter at @clariselarson.
